Project description:Normal cellular function requires communication between mitochondria and the nucleus, termed mitochondria-to-nucleus retrograde signaling. Interruption of this mechanism has been implicated in the dysregulation of many cancer-related pathways, including cell death programs and tumor suppressor networks. Many proteins are known modulators of retrograde signaling, but whether microRNAs (miRNAs) are also involved is unknown. We conducted a miRNA microarray analysis using RNA from a parental cell line, a Rho0 line lacking mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and a Rho0 line with restored mtDNA. We found that miR-663 was down-regulated in the mtDNA-depleted Rho0 line. mtDNA restoration reversed this miRNA to parental levels, suggesting that it is an epigenetically-regulated mediator of retrograde signaling. We further demonstrated by methylation specific PCR and bisulfite sequencing that miR-663 is epigenetically regulated by pharmacological disruption of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). Restoration of rotenone-suppressed miR-663 expression by N-acetylcysteine suggested that mitochondrial dysfunction–induced reactive oxygen species play a role in epigenetic miR-663 regulation. We noted that miR-663 regulates the expression of nuclear-encoded respiratory chain subunits, e.g. NDUFB8, SDHB, UQCRFS1, and COX4L1. miR-663 also regulated the OXPHOS assembly factors NDUFAF1, SDHAF2, UQCC2, and SCO1 and was required for respiratory supercomplex stability. Furthermore, using luciferase assays, we found that miR-663 directly regulates UQCC2. The miR-663 sponge reduced OXPHOS complex activity and increased in vitro cellular proliferation and promoted tumor development in mice. We also found that increased miR-663 expression in breast tumors consistently correlates with increased patient survival. We provide first evidence for miRNA mediating retrograde signaling, demonstrating its epigenetic regulation and its role in breast tumorigenesis.
Project description:MicroRNAs are well known to mediate translational repression and mRNA degradation in the cytoplasm. Various microRNAs have also been detected in membrane-compartmentalized organelles, but the functional significance has remained elusive. Here we report that miR-1, a microRNA specifically induced during myogenesis, efficiently enters the mitochondria where it unexpectedly stimulates, rather than represses, the translation of specific mitochondrial genome-encoded transcripts. We show that this positive effect requires specific miR:mRNA base-pairing and Ago2, but not its functional partner GW182, which is excluded from the mitochondria. We provide evidence for the direct action of Ago2 in mitochondrial translation by Ago2 CrossLinking ImmunoPrecipitation coupled with sequencing (CLIP-seq), functional rescue with mitochondria-targeted Ago2, and selective inhibition of the microRNA machinery in the cytoplasm. These findings unveil a positive function of microRNA in mitochondrial translation and suggest a highly coordinated myogenic program via miR-1 mediated translational stimulation in the mitochondria and repression in the cytoplasm. Examination of miRNA's regulation function in mitochondria in C2C12 myoblasts cells and myotubes cells with CLIP-seq (Ago2).
Project description:Caloric restriction (CR) without malnutrition appears to mitigate many detrimental effects of aging, in particular the age-related decline in skeletal muscle mitochondrial function. Although the mechanisms responsible for this protective effect remain unclear, CR is commonly believed to increase mitochondrial biogenesis; a concept that is now demanding closer scrutiny. Here we show that lifelong CR in mice prevents age-related loss of mitochondrial function, measured in isolated mitochondria and permeabilized muscle fibers. We find that these beneficial effects of CR occur without increasing mitochondrial abundance. Furthermore, whole-genome expression profiling and large-scale proteomic surveys revealed expression patterns inconsistent with increased mitochondrial biogenesis. These observations, combined with lower protein synthesis rates support an alternative hypothesis that CR preserves mitochondrial function not by increasing mitochondrial biogenesis, but rather by decreasing mitochondrial oxidant emission, increasing antioxidant scavenging, thereby minimizing oxidative damage to cellular components. Cross-sectional comparison of skeletal muscle from young (8mo), old (24mo) and old caloric restricted mice, obtained from the colony maintained on behalf of the National Institute on Aging.
Project description:Altered mitochondrial function in prostate cancer was characterized using paired malignant/non-malignant (benign) tissue samples. Mitochondrial DNA heteroplasmies (mtDNA-NGS) and mitochondria associated gene transcript levels (RNAseq-NGS) were analyzed and correlated to mitochondrial respiration (high-resolution respirometry), to each other and to the tumor stage and grade.
Project description:Efficient mitochondrial function is required in tissues with high energy demand such as the heart, and mitochondrial dysfunction is associated with cardiovascular disease. Expression of mitochondrial proteins is tightly regulated in response to internal and external stimuli. Here we identify a novel mechanism regulating mitochondrial content and function, through BUD23-dependent ribosome generation. BUD23 was required for ribosome maturation, normal 18S/28S stoichiometry and modulated the translation of mitochondrial transcripts in human A549 cells.
Project description:MicroRNAs are well known to mediate translational repression and mRNA degradation in the cytoplasm. Various microRNAs have also been detected in membrane-compartmentalized organelles, but the functional significance has remained elusive. Here we report that miR-1, a microRNA specifically induced during myogenesis, efficiently enters the mitochondria where it unexpectedly stimulates, rather than represses, the translation of specific mitochondrial genome-encoded transcripts. We show that this positive effect requires specific miR:mRNA base-pairing and Ago2, but not its functional partner GW182, which is excluded from the mitochondria. We provide evidence for the direct action of Ago2 in mitochondrial translation by Ago2 CrossLinking ImmunoPrecipitation coupled with sequencing (CLIP-seq), functional rescue with mitochondria-targeted Ago2, and selective inhibition of the microRNA machinery in the cytoplasm. These findings unveil a positive function of microRNA in mitochondrial translation and suggest a highly coordinated myogenic program via miR-1 mediated translational stimulation in the mitochondria and repression in the cytoplasm.
Project description:This study investigates the predictive and prognostic values of inflammatory markers and microRNA in stage IV colorectal cancer. The expression of inflammatory markers and microRNA in plasma will be correlated with tumor location, with dietary patterns and with survival during treatment.